Real Madrid travel to Ukraine this evening to take on Shakhtar Donetsk in a crucial Champions League tie.
Madrid are second in Champions League Group D, two points clear of Inter and Shakhtar but three behind leaders Sheriff, the Moldovan underdogs who beat Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu in their last European fixture.
🏟 OLÍMPICO DE KIEV 🇺🇦#UCL pic.twitter.com/vqPNWByy49
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) October 19, 2021
At home in Spain, Madrid are second in La Liga, three points behind leaders Real Sociedad – with a game in hand – and level with Sevilla, Atletico Madrid and Osasuna.
📋✅ ¡Nuestro 𝗫𝗜 inicial 🆚 @FCShakhtar! @UnicajaBanco | #UCL pic.twitter.com/7n3tUEV55W
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) October 19, 2021
Carlo Ancelotti is expected to set Madrid up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Thibaut Courtois starting in goal behind a back four of Lucas Vazquez, Eder Militao, David Alaba and Ferland Mendy, who’s just returned after a spell out injured.
Casemiro will anchor the midfield – flanked by veterans Toni Kroos and Luka Modric – while the red-hot Karim Benzema will lead the line with Rodrygo to his right and Vinicius to his left.
